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An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new requirement for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, whether to visit the country directly or to pass through in transit.

The authorities have specified that the minimum requirements for the education criterion is to obtain a qualifying Canadian educational credential. For this, an applicant would need to:

Have been enrolled full-time in a program of study or training with a duration of at least two years i.e. two academic years of at least eight months exclusive of scheduled breaks such as summer holidays

Have studied at a Canadian institution located in Canada and must have been physically present in Canada for at least two academic years

This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R87.1 (3) (d)

Have obtained one or more of the following educational credentials:

A diploma, degree or trade / apprenticeship credential from a public, provincially recognised Canadian university, community college, CEGEP or trade / technical school or,

Operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions and,

Receives at least 50 percent of its financing for overall operations from government grants, subsidies or other assistance

Currently, only private CEGEPs qualify

A degree from a Canadian private provincially recognised post-secondary institution

There is one exception to these requirements. Applicants whose length of study in Canada is less than two academic years could be eligible if their credentials are for a graduate program of at least eight months and a previous qualifying post-secondary education credential of at least eight months, within the two years prior to the completion of the graduate program. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R87.1 (2) (a) (i) (D).

Excluded Studies

Excluded studies comprise the following:

Any full-time program of study where the study of English or French as a second language amounted to more than half of the program

This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R87.1 (3) (e)

Any studies in Canada taken under an award that specifies that the recipient would need to return to their home country for applying their knowledge and skills

This includes:

All awards from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and,

The following awards from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development:

The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program – Student Exchange Program (only)

The Government of Canada Awards Program – Student Exchange Program (only)

The Canada-China Scholars Exchange Program

The Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program Canada-Chile

The Organisation of American States Fellowships Program and,

Distance learning, including online programs completed outside Canada

This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R87.1 (3) (f)

Examples of Acceptable Study

Officers would consider an applicant as meeting the educational requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) if:

The applicant gets any qualifying educational credential of at least two years such as:

A university diploma

A technical diploma from a qualifying college or,

A general CEGEP diploma

The applicant gets a one-year qualifying credential (such as a college diploma) and then acquires another one-year graduate credential (such as a master’s, MBA or a post-baccalaureate) within two years after graduating with the first credential

It is worth noting here that the applicant has the authority to leave Canada between the two graduations, as long as the time gap that separates the two graduations does not exceed a span of two years